Feminine syringe



, Dec.r10, v1957 H. o. HOFFMANA ETL 2,815,754

FEMININE SYRINGE 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1955 Dec. 10, 1957 H. o. HOFFMAN ETA. 2,315,754

FEMININE SYRINGE: l

Filed Nov. 7,;1955 `2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS i 195555,97 awa/WHW? BY .f1/55mm' M455 rEMrNrNE sYnINGE Herbert 0. Hodman and Western Wiles, Ashland, Ohio, assignors to The Faultless Rubber Company, Ashland, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,411

11 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 231) This invention relates to syringes, especially to syringes and syringe bulbs usually used for feminine hygiene pur poses.

Heretofore there have been various types of syringe bulbs provided and several types of feminine syringe bulbs have been commercially made and sold in large quantities. Recently one new type of such a syringe has been a bottom or base filling type of a syringe and this invention particularly relates to bulbs of such type and it is especially adapted for such use, although it may have other purposes.

One problem involved in use of such syringes is that of filling the bulbs conveniently and completely and the bulbs have provided two or three types of seals for closing the openings in the base of the bulb.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved syringe characterized by the novel and effective seal of an opening in the syringe bulb wherein the seal utilizes a pair of concentric flexible sealing lips or ribs provided on a portion of the syringe bulb.

Another object of the invention is to use a quickly removable closure member for flattening a pair of sealing ribs in a base portion of the bulb and where the closure is retained in place by a bayonet-lock action.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure means in a syringe bulb or the like wherein the closure means include a metal ferrule embedded in the resilient bulb and a separate lock member secured to the metal ferrule and extending radially inwardly of the bulb opening for receiving a closure means for the opening in the bulb.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a positive acting closure means which is readily engageable with and disengaged from a bulb for closing a filling opening therein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

In order to understand the invention more completely, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of a syringe bulb of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away and shown in section, of a syringe bulb of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through a portion of the base of the bulb of Fig. l as molded and without the closure means therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the closure assembly in its initially assembled position prior to a sealing action thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the syringe of Fig. 1 with the removable closure therein omitted;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially broken away and shown in vertical section at the center thereof of the removable closure member of the syringe of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section like Fig. 3 only aired States Patent O f 2,815,754 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 with the closure member in its final sealed, or closed position.

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings and referred to in the specifications, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison between such parts.

The present invention relates to a syringe comprising a resilient bulb having a filling opening with an integral neck portion therearound, a metal ferrule having a cylindrical center portion and having flanges at edge portions thereof embedded in the material forming the neck with the inner surface of such cylindrical portion exposed, a bayonet ferrule ring secured to the metal ferrule, and closure means removably engaged with the bayonet ferrule to press down for closure action against a pair of concentric sealing ribs provided on the bulb and circumscribing the opening therein so that an effective closure action is secured for the filling opening of the bulb.

Reference is now especially made to the details of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, and a syringe is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. The syringe includes a resilient or flexible bulb 2 and a discharge spout 3 removably secured to the bulb 2 as is conventional in many syringes of this type. The bulb 2 has a flattened base portion or section and an inwardly extending neck 4 is provided in the base and outlines a filling opening 5 provided for the bulb 2. The neck 4 has a radially inwardly extending shoulder 6 at the axial end thereof to aid in closing the filling opening 5, as hereinafter described in more detail.

One important feature of the bulb 2 is that the shoulder 6 is provided with one or more, and usually two, flexible or resilient, radially space-d, concentric sealing ribs or lips 7 which can be flattened to aid in sealing the opening 5. Such sealing ribs 7 are both radially positioned outwardly with relation to the filling opening 5 so that a flange 8 of a small apertured metal cup or basket 9 can be engaged with the shoulder 6 to aid in removably securing the cup or basket 9 to extend into the bulb 2, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Such drawing figure also best and clearly shows that a metal ferrule, or anchor ring 10 is carried on the inner surface of the neck 4 and it usually has flanges 11 and 12 extending therefrom and embedded in the resilient material forming the bulb 2 and neck d to secure such metal ferrule 10 to the bulb 2. Preferably the flanges 11 and 12 are apertured or are of other irregular contour (not shown) to aid in locking the metal ferrule 1l) to the flexible bulb 2..

In this instance, a separate bayonet ferrule, or cam ring 13 is fixedly secured to the metal ferrule 10, as by small bosses, or ribs 10a provided on the ferrule 10 and bosses or ribs 13a provided on the ferrule 13, at coinciding circumferentially spaced and localized portions of such ferrules. Usually the ferrules 10 and 13 are made from flexible, relatively thin gauge material, such as brass, so that they are sumciently flexible that the rib 13a provided on the bayonet ferrule 13 could be forced down over the normal diameter of the metal ferrule 10 to snap into engagement with the similar boss or rib 16a provided on the ferrule 10. The assembled condition of the ferrules is shown in Fig. 3.

A pair of semi-circular, inwardly extending flanges 14 are provided on the bayonet ferrule 13 and each of such flanges 14 has a cam section or arc 15 provided thereon and extending axially inwardly with relation to the bulb 2 to aid in seating closure means over the filling opening 5, as described in more detail hereinafter.

Fig. 4 also shows that a pair of notches or recesses 16 are provided in the bayonet ferrule 13 to divide the flange sections 14 thereof and to permit lugs 17 on a closure or cap 18 to be inserted through such notches 16 and be thereafter turned for 'engaging the flanges 14 and cam section 15 thereof. The closure or cap 18 has a diametrically extending wall 19 therein of greater heighth than the remainder ofthe 4cl-osure to'facilitate manual engagement of the closure, which also has an axially outer flange 20 extending continuously 'therearound for bearing against the axially outer surface of the bayonet ferrule 13 vto aid -in the desired closure action and locking of the closure in place. A pair of diametrically opposed apertures 21'are provided in the flange 20 in axial alignment with the lugs 17 yto facilitate molding the closure 18 from suitable plastic material. The closure also 'has an annular rib 22 provided on the axially inner Vend surface thereof, which rib -is adapted to be positioned intermediate the ysealing ribs 7 to seal lthereagainst and to aid in pressing such `sealing ribs y'Hat when the Vclosure 1S is in its locked engagement with the bayonet ferrule 13.

-It `will be realized that in some instances it may be desirable to combine the ferrules 10 and 13 into a unitary article, but the molding operations for producing the bulb 2 are simplified by the provision of the structure, as disclosed herein.

It should be realized that the 'bulb 2 and closure 18 can be made from any suitable material and that the bulb is usually made from a rubber or rubber-like material or a resilient plastic and that the closure may be made from any conventional plastic, usually of a thermosetting nature.

By the syringe 1, it is possible to invert the syringe and fill such a bulb 2 completely through the bottom filling opening 5 provided therein. Then the closure 18 can be moved axially into engagement with the ferrule 13 and be rotated through an arc of about 90 degrees to lock it fixedly in engagement with the bayonet ferrule 13 and depress the sealing ribs 7 by engagement of the annular rib 22 therewith, all as shown in the drawings made a part hereof.

It should be'noted that the embossments or indentations provided in the ferrule should not completely sever the metal into a separate lug or lip through which part of the rubber or other plastic means forming the bulb and neck portion thereof could pass to the inner surface thereof as it is desired that no plastic material be provided thereon to facilitate securing an inner lferrule member thereto.

One of the features of providing a base opening type of a syringe is that no other-container is required for mixing an antiseptic solution for use in the syringe, as the solution can be prepared directly by water passing over an antiseptic tablet or other similar article carried in the basket 9 of the syringe bulb, hence the novel type of a syringe disclosed herein is much more sanitary'than other top opening syringes and is daintier and cleaner to use.

In view of the foregoing, it is contended that a relatively sturdy but positive seal has been provided by the invention and that the syringe 1 can be readily and inexpensively manufactured by known production techniques. If desired, the seating ribs 10a and 13a provided on'the ferrules 10 and 13 can be formed therein by a suitable `tool after two cylindrical rings or ferrules have been brought into engagement with each other by a simple telescopingmovement so that the individual metal members can be secured together in any desired manner. The special seal provided by the pair of sealing ribs 7 andftheir engagement with the closure 18 is effective and will prevent any liquid leakage through the filling opening of the syringe so that the objects of the invention arethought to 4be achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciatedlthat vmodification of this `particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted towithout departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A syringe comprising a resilient `bulb having a filling opening 'with an'integral neck portion therearound, ametal ferrule rhaving afcyliudrical center 'portion y:and having flanges at the inner and outer edges thereof, said ferrule being embedded in the material forming said neck but with the inner surface of its cylindrical portion exposed, a bayonet ferrule secured to said metal ferrule, and a closure for said filling opening removably engaging said bayonet ferrule.

2. A syringe comprising aresilient bulb having a filling opening with anintegral neck portion therearound, said bulb having liexible sealing ribs around said opening, a metal ferrule .embedded in the material forming said neck but with its inner surface exposed, a bayonet ferrule secured to said metal ferrule, and a closure removably engaging said bayonet ferrule and movable axially inwardly by arcuate movement with relation thereto to press against said sealingribs.

3. A syringe comprising a resilient bulb having a filling opening with an integral neck portion therearound, a metal ferrule having a sleeve-like portion embedded in the material `forming said neck but with its inner surface exposed, a bayonet ferrule secured to said metal ferrule by localized ribs in said ferrules, and a closure removably engaging said bayonet ferrule and moved axially inwardly thereby .when engaged with said bayonet ferrule.

4. Ina syringe, a resilient bulb having a fiat base with an opening therein, said bulb having a pair of spaced flexible concentric sealing ribs extending axially from the base and circumscribing said opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, and a closure having an axially inwardly extending rib thereon engaging said retaining means, said .closure rib being positioned intermediate said ribs and saidclosure and pressing against and lflattening said ribsto seal said bulb.

5. In a syringe, a resilient bulb having a at base with an axially inwardly extending neck having an opening therein, said neckhaving a shoulder at the axially inner end thereof, said shoulder having a pair of flexible concentric sealing ribs extending axially outwardly .therefrom and circumscribing said opening, sleeve-like retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, and a closure Aengaging said retaining means and pressing against'said ribs toseal said bulb, said closure havingan annular ribextending axially therefrom and positioned intermediate and engaging said sealing ribs.

6. In a syringe, a resilient bulb having a flat base with an opening therein, said bulb having a pair of spaced flexible `concentric sealing ribs extending axially from the base circumscribing'said opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, and a closure engaging said retaining means and pressing against said ribs on the adjacent surfacesfthereof to seal said bulb.

'7. Ina-syringe, a resilient bulb having a flat base with an openingtherein, said bulb having a pair of iiexible concentric sealing ribs extending axially from the base circumscribing vsaid opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at Isaidopening, said retaining moans having cam sections thereon extending axially inwardly of said bulb, and a closure engaging said retaining means, said closure.engagingxsaidcam sections and being urged into engagement iwith said ribs by arcuate movement with relation thereto.

8. In-.al syringe,a resilient bulb with an opening therein, an anchor'ring secured in said opening, a cam ring secured to said lanchor' ring on the inner surface thereof, said'bulbhavinga sealing rib adjacent said opening, and a closure engagedy with said cam ring and pressed against said rib for .sealing action therewith.

`9. 'In.asyringe, aresilient bulb having a flat base with an opening therein, said bulb having a pair of flexible concentric sealing ribs extending axially from the base circumscribing said opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, and a closure engaging said retaining means, said.` closure-having an axially extending annular ribithereon engaged with said ribs intermediate said pair:of-'ribsftoform a-seal therewith as said closure engages said retaining'means.

10. In a syringe, a resilient bulb having an opening therein, said bulb having an outwardly directed sealing shoulder circumscribing said opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, said retaining means having cam sections thereon extending axially inwardly of said bulb, and a closure engaging said retaining means, said closure engaging said cam sections and being urged into sealing engagement with said shoulder by arcuate movement with relation to said cam sections.

11. In a syringe, a resilient bulb having an opening therein, said bulb having an outwardly directed sealing shoulder circumscribing said opening, retaining means engaging said bulb at said opening, said retaining means having cam sections thereon spaced from said sealing shoulder and extending axially inwardly of said bulb, and a closure engaging said retaining means, said closure engaging said cam sections and having a portion thereof spaced from said cam sections being urged into sealing engagement with said shoulder by arcuate movement with relation to said cam sections.

Masden Mar. 4, 1952 Wiles et a1 Mar. 27, 1956 

